Spare Shots: Odds & Ends and a ‘Neu’ addition

Just when you’re not sure if there’s enough “new stuff” to fill this space (or you have writer’s block because of lack of sleep) the week (and this column) fills up pretty quickly. Here we go:

Retired Columbia H.S. math teacher Bill Neumann, the girls’ bowling coach and Section II bowling co-coordinator said he had almost given up hope of another 300 game this year. Things got spoiled with a solid 10 or 8-pin. But all of a sudden, they are coming in waves and he now has 66 perfect games for his career.

On Friday, March 28, in his Friday “fun” league, he bowled his first 300 of the year in the last game for a 796-triple. Then the next day, in the Green Mountain Open in Vermont, he hit 300-720. And on Monday, April 7, he hit 235-269-300 in the Del Lanes Classic for an 804. That most recent one is also his first as a grandpa. His son Mike’s wife gave birth April 6 to Emma Elizabeth, 8 lbs, 1 oz. We wish them all good health and congratulations. It won’t be long now that Emma will be bowling too, that’s for sure.

OTHER BIG SCORES >> At Barbecue Recreation, Roseanne Stowell rolled her career high 567 in the Tuesday Women on April 8; Matt Brownell had another 300-778, to lead Wednesday International; then in the Thursday American, Brian Rice hit 299-803.

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At Hometown Lanes, Steve Gabriel hit 299-802 in the Sunday Social Mixed on April 6; in the Mechanicville Fire league on March 31, Joseph Felitte hit 300-803.

TITLE TIME >> Just like Union Hockey, Sam Houston State won its first national title in any sport Saturday night when the Bearkats won the women’s bowling title 4-2. The #8 seeded Sam Houston State, which brought back bowling four seasons ago, beat defending champion Nebraska, with Rotterdam’s Liz Kuhlkin. The Cornhuskers were looking for their fifth bowling championship.

Nebraska, the #6-seed, beat #3 Vanderbilt in the first round 4-3 and that set up a semifinal match between Kuhlkin’s Cornhuskers and the #2 seeded Arkansas State Red Wolves, with Colonie’s Kalynn Carl 4-2-1. In the first round match, Arkansas State beat #7 Central Missouri 3-1-2. However in the consolation round, the Red Wolves got swept by #1 seed Maryland Eastern Shore 4-0.

CITY TOURNAMENT >> The 79th Annual Troy Members City Tournament starts sooner than you think: Team Event, Hometown Lanes, April 24-May 1; Doubles & Singles, Uncle Sam Lanes, May 3-9.

WEEKEND WINNERS >> In the Capital District Youth Scholarship Tour, Patrick DeVoe of Delmar beat top-seed Jonathan Bowman of Peru 224-192 at East Greenbush Bowling Center for his second-ever CDYST win. Bowman will be Player of the Year.

In the New Era Seniors Tournament at Spare Time-Latham, #2-seed Chris Fedden rolled a 957 in qualifying and went on to beat #1-seed Jim Burton (996) 247-214. Fedden earned $350 and Burton got $200. More details on both at troyrecord.com.

SAY UNCLE >> The final squad of the Uncle Sam Bar/Restaurant/Tavern Tournament is this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. The team from O’Brien’s Pub, captained by Jen Shoemaker, still leads with 3,667 pins. Five-man teams can still enter ($100). Call Tom Walsh at 271-7800. The Flag Day Parade Bowlathon at USL runs April 23-24.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS >> The Best Western Cobleskill Super Sweeper, a singles, scratch tournament, will be held at Cobleskill Lanes April 26-27. Saturday Squads at 1 p.m. & 4 p.m. with the top five qualifiers returning on Sunday for the stepladder finals. First place is guaranteed $2,000. Check local bowling center for entry blanks or download at www.bestwesterncobleskill.com/bowling. Contact: Gus Lampo at 607-287-0069. They are still looking for someone to run the brackets on Saturday.

Friday, April 18: The 4th Annual “Pins for Pets” for Steve Caporizzo’s Pet Connection Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Spare Time-Latham to help homeless animals. You are asked to bring a food item to help feed them and there will be a silent auction. Contact 785-6694.

Friday, April 25: North Greenbush Kiwanis Club “Bowl-a-Thon” at Hi-Way

This Sunday, Troy Hall of Famer Mark Kepner faces Craig Taylor in the first game; that winner gets Brian LeClair in game two; and that winner rolls against R.J. Martinez in the “Kenny Hall Tournament of Champions” at Uncle Sam Lanes. So after church and Easter Brunch, join us for a 3:00 p.m. start. You might even win a bowling ball.